About

Mission: NEOVETS, Inc. serves military families by connecting them to proven, best-in-class community resources and information, ensuring their success while supporting the employers we serve.

Who and what is NEOVETS?

More than 160,000 working-age Veterans reside in Northeast Ohio, and that number is growing. NEOVETS is a volunteer group of Northeast Ohio industry, health care, education, banking, technology, retail, and other business entities who value veterans returning to NEO and want to retain them through assisting with employment, education, housing, healthcare and other needs they may have that will cause them to stay, live and work in NEO. NEOVETS began its work in early 2014.

How and why did NEOVETS form?
A number of resources are in place both locally and federally to assist Veterans, Guardsmen, Reservists, and their spouses in finding civilian employment. However, we recognized that a gap existed between vets, and their education and employment. Many initiatives exist online, but they don’t always work well because the users are on their own. There is rarely a live person to help. NEOVETS’ goal is to fill that gap! Most companies across Northeast Ohio are scrambling to find the right talent. Likewise, highly trained veterans across NEO are looking for employment and countless more will be transitioning out of the military over the coming years. NEOVETS tries to connect those two groups successfully.

Is NEOVETS a certified organization through the government or otherwise?
Yes. As of February 2, 2015. NEOVETS is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual.

What is NEOVETS?
The strategy is to fill the larger gap that exists between veterans and their families, and the many programs and services they need. It is starting its work in the employment area with NEOVETS leading the way. The overarching initiative focuses on four strategies: policy influence, infrastructure, human interface and awareness. Employers, educators, mortgage providers, healthcare, and many other organizations have volunteered their time, people, resources and expertise in support of developing this initiative for returning veterans. They plan is to set up a Point of Contact service for returning veterans that connects with them upon leaving the military to determine what needs they have, then will connect them with individuals involved with appropriate service providers. Service providers could be employers, recruiters, universities, community colleges, The Veterans Administration, loan providers, and many other service providers for NEO veterans.

Other than the honor of helping veterans and Reservists/Guardsmen find employment, what are the benefits for my business or corporation to earn NEOVETS certification?
NEOVETS CMTE certification means veteran job seekers will know immediately that your company has been trained in understanding the transition a veteran (and his/her family) goes through into the civilian work force and how his/her skills and experience from the military can translate. These include background training for your employers/HR in areas such as breakdown of the different branches of the service and rank structure, military lingo, the difference between military and civilian benefit packages, what it means to hire an active Reservist/National Guard member including working with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and breaking down myths of PTSD.

How long and involved is the process to earn “military talent employer” certification?
NEOVETS has established specific criteria to demonstrate that a business or organization is military friendly, meaning that the business is invested in hiring and retaining veterans and willing to commit resources to the effort. The process is not difficult but it’s necessary to ensure an organization is truly invested. The application form can be downloaded from the NEOVETS website. Once completed, it requires the signatures of both the organization’s senior HR professional and his/her manager, and a review by a committee.

I’ve heard about Ohio House Bill 488, and that it impacts veterans. What is it?
The major provisions of HB 488 are 1) to help veterans get jobs by fast-tracking professional licenses, 2) giving veterans college credit for military training and experience, 3) helping veterans make the transition to college easier by requiring colleges and universities to implement best practices, and 4) protecting veterans when called to active duty by increasing penalties for identity theft. More information on HB 488 can be found at Ohio HB 488

Milestones for NEOVETS

Assisted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the local organization for Hiring Our Heroes – CLE June 26, 2014

Conducted Ohio’s first-ever Certification Training so that employers could become Certified Military Talent Employers (CMTE) September 2014

Became an Ohio registered business February 2015

Assisted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the local organization for Hiring Our Heroes – CLE July 10, 2015

Welcomed the first two CMTEs during Hiring Our Heroes: Nagle Companies and Cleveland Clinic

Conducted Second Annual CMTE training for a group of about 70 employers

Introduced 3 more CMTEs: Park Place Technologies, jakprints, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Appearances on WKYC, and ESPN AM850, and WTAM 1100

Conducted 3 Spring Conference Seminars

Sponsored the Information Security Summit

Became a registered non-profit effective February 2, 2015

Now have 8 Certified Military Talent Employers™

Created a community college collaborative to support Veterans and businesses

What are the NEOVETS plans for the future?
After solid foundational practices are in place we will expand service delivery into additional areas of Healthcare, Housing, Family Strength, Behavioral Health, Financial/Legal, Volunteerism, and any other reintegration need veterans may have.

Where can more information be obtained?
Subscribe to local information and updates and other available resources by sending a blank e-mail to: info@neovets.org, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/neoveterans; Twitter: @neoveterans; LinkedIn: NEOVETS, and continue to watch for updates to www.neovets.org.